History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 16

h's Life--little as he expected it, that day when he
started up from his ague-fit at Reinsberg, and grasped the fiery
Opportunity that was shooting past--is a Life of War. The chief
memory that will remain of him is that of a King and man who fought
consummately well. Not Peace and the Muses; no, that is denied him,
--though he was so unwilling, always, to think it denied! But his
Life-Task turned out to be a Battle for Silesia. It consists of
Three grand Struggles of War. And not for Silesia only;--
unconsciously, for what far greater things to his Nation and
to him!
"Deeply unconscious of it, they were passing their 'Trials,' his
Nation and he, in the great Civil-Service-Examination Hall of this
Universe: 'Are you able to defend yourselves, then; and to hang
together coherent, against the whole world and its incoherencies
and rages?' A question which has to be asked of Nations, before
they can be recognized as such, and be baptized into the general
commonwealth; they are mere Hordes or acc